Chapter 305 The Gifts of Fate Have All Been Priced
Deep in the Serbian wilderness, the rock walls of the coniferous valley gleamed grayish-white in the dim light of the day.
Garus's enormous and imposing figure stood in the valley clearing, its metallic scales reflecting the faint light of dawn.
He lowered his head, his vertical pupils intently examining the items laid out before him: pieces of pure, transparent black oil crystals, and several large, open wooden crates beside them.
Inside the wooden box.
They are magical gems piled up like small mountains, radiating the brilliance of various elements, red like fire, blue like ice, green like the vitality of a forest, pure and clear, without any flaws or cracks.
These priceless treasures were part of a generous return gift from Princess Elena of Lorthorn.
Leaving aside the equally considerable but somewhat vulgar gold and silver treasures, the core of this return gift is five units of first-grade black oil crystals, as well as more than one hundred magic gems, each of excellent quality.
"Unfortunately, even with Elena's status and position, she can't easily produce more black oil crystals."
Galos stretched out his claw and carefully picked up a piece of cool black oil crystal, playing with it for a moment on his claw tip.
He could feel the intense, instinctive allure of the pure energy contained within it.
In the end, he suppressed his primal urge to devour it completely and carefully placed it back in its original spot, storing it away with the other crystals.
Not long ago, Galos had a conversation with Princess Elena, who was far away.
Galos's attitude was very straightforward, clearly expressing his desire for more black oil crystals, stating that he could exchange them for a share of other gifts.
However, Princess Elena found it difficult to do so.
She frankly stated that even as a royal princess, she currently has a very limited supply of black oil crystals that she can activate at one time, which is insufficient to meet Garus's requirements.
In peacetime, there might still be room for mediation.
However, the current situation in the Federation is turbulent. Scarce resources like Black Oil Crystals, which are priceless and of great strategic importance, are almost all classified as top-level controlled materials by the major kingdoms, and their distribution channels are strictly blocked. If Elena were not a royal princess, she probably wouldn't even be able to extract a single unit of Black Oil Crystals.
"This thing is being guarded too closely; no kingdom would easily allow it to leak out."
"In order to obtain black oil crystals stably and in large quantities, we must ultimately rely on our own alchemical industrial system to establish a high level of expertise and gradually concentrate and refine them from ordinary black oil."
Galos pondered silently in his heart.
Desire, once ignited, is like a boulder rolling down a mountain peak; once started, its unstoppable momentum is difficult to control.
Galos clearly remembered that when he was still a weak young dragon, being lucky enough to drink some ordinary black oil was enough to satisfy him for a long time.
However, things are different now.
Now that he possesses the resources of the border area and the fissured soil, ordinary black oil is no longer scarce for him, and that desire has faded.
Naturally, his gaze became fixed on the higher-level energy crystals—black oil crystals.
However, while Princess Elena could not provide a large amount of black oil crystals to show her sincerity, she did not leave empty-handed. She gifted Galos a considerable amount of No. 98 refined black oil.
This highly refined black oil is a rare commodity that the Iron Smelting Tribe currently struggles to produce consistently using its own technology.
Galos easily pried open the sealed lid of a barrel of 98 black oil with his sharp claws.
Instantly, an energy aura, richer and more mellow than ordinary black oil, carrying a strange burning sensation, spread out, stimulating his senses.
Without hesitation, he raised his enormous head, opened his mouth full of sharp teeth, and drank several large mouthfuls!
The scorching, liquid-flame-like energy surged down his throat, as if igniting the blood within him.
Immediately afterwards, Garus's strong tail, covered in metallic scales, deftly coiled up, pulling several dazzling gems brimming with elemental power from the nearby gem box.
He took a deep breath and swallowed the gems along with another large mouthful of 98 black oil.
The elemental energy contained in the gemstone and the pure power of 98 Black Oil intertwine, collide, and burn violently in the stomach!
An indescribable feeling of comfort instantly swept over my entire body.
It was like the most intense flames exploding and surging within my internal organs!
"Cool!"
A deep, satisfied dragon's roar echoed through the valley.
Galos's body was covered in bulging scales, his muscles were bulging and bulging, and his blood was flowing and roaring like lava.
He was determined not to waste this golden opportunity.
Exhilarating! Blood Explosion!
Accompanied by a series of muffled, thunderous roars that shook the entire valley, Galos began a frenzied, almost self-torturous training session on the spot.
Time flows silently, like the wind swirling through a valley.
Soon, a few days passed in the blink of an eye.
On this morning, the sunlight, like molten gold, generously poured over the tundra and coniferous forests of the Serbian wilderness, and the sky appeared as a clear, almost transparent blue.
In this tranquil and radiant morning light, Charles Hines, the Flower Knight who had been unconscious for a long time, twitched his eyelids slightly and finally slowly opened his heavy eyes.
The blurry vision, like glass covered with water mist, gradually became clearer.
The first thing he saw was the cold, rough, gray rocky ground beneath him.
Then, the field of vision slowly moved upwards.
A huge, deep silhouette, exuding an indescribable sense of oppression, gradually focused and solidified before his eyes, eventually transforming into the majestic, strong, red iron dragon that he would never forget.
"The war has ended."
Red Iron Dragon's gaze calmly fell, looking down at the Flower Knight who had just awakened and was still extremely weak.
"However, this does not mean the end."
Galos continued, his voice devoid of emotion: "The timing last time wasn't right for either of us, but now we can continue that interrupted conversation."
Over the past few days, Garros has not only been exercising and digesting energy.
Through the clandestine visits and investigations conducted by his family members among the adventurers in Riverwood over the past few days, it has been confirmed that this Flower Knight—Charles Hines—is actually a highly reputable figure, deeply respected and admired by many adventurers.
Not just within the territory of the Principality of Raymond.
Because of his friendly, warm, and generous nature, and his excellent character, the Flower Knight is still willing to lend a helping hand to the weak even when his own interests are harmed. He enjoys a considerable reputation among adventurers and is a well-known hero.
Galos cut to the chase and asked, "What exactly is your relationship with the Albert family?"
Charles struggled to calm his groggy mind as he awoke, his voice still weak: "I once received favors from the Albert family."
He paused, propped himself up with his arm to keep from aching, and continued, “Earl Mills has accused the Ironforge of tyranny and pleaded with me to resolve this matter for the Albert family and reclaim the lost territory.”
"I came here to repay a past favor and to rescue the residents of Riverwood, who are said to be suffering. However, after investigation, I found that the actual situation was quite different from what Earl Mills had described."
After hearing these accounts, Galus roughly understood the cause and effect of the whole incident.
"I see."
Red Iron Dragon's voice was full of undisguised mockery: "It's another clichéd and disgusting story—a foolish knight who thinks he is righteous is easily fooled by a cunning and treacherous noble lord with lies, and travels thousands of miles to challenge a dragon, just to be used as a cheap tool for the noble to get rid of his thorn in his side."
"And I, Garus, unfortunately play the role of the evil dragon destined to be defeated by justice in your story."
"It's incredibly boring."
The Flower Knight doesn't think so.
Having traveled extensively and witnessed countless moments of light and darkness in the world, he considers himself no naive or inexperienced newcomer.
"Your Excellency, King of Iron, I am more inclined to believe that there is some deep misunderstanding involved."
Charles carefully considered his words, maintaining a sincere tone: "Earl Mills is a benevolent and kind-hearted lord, renowned throughout the southern nobility for his virtue."
“Every year, he would donate a significant portion of his family’s income to charity, establishing several well-equipped orphanages and taking in a large number of homeless children.”
"He was never stingy when it came to fighting evil and upholding justice, always generously donating money and providing free assistance to adventurers' guilds and local guards."
Charles continued earnestly, “Moreover, he was extremely kind to the ordinary peasants and farmers in his territory, without the arrogance of most nobles.”
"That is why all the people of the Albert family's territory wholeheartedly support this benevolent Earl."
Charles looked at Garros with earnest eyes: "Perhaps it was some unscrupulous people who deliberately distorted the facts in front of the Count, blinding him and causing the misunderstanding and this unfortunate conflict."
"Your Majesty, King of the Smelting Iron, I, Charles Hines, am willing to serve as a bridge of communication and do my utmost to clear up the misunderstandings between the Smelting Iron tribe and the Albert family, and to facilitate reconciliation between the two sides."
reconciliation?
Are you kidding me?
Galos's enormous head tilted slightly.
He clearly realized that the young knight before him may have experienced many adventures and seen a lot of the world, but his perspective was still limited to the superficial glamour. He was misled by the nobleman's carefully crafted virtues and failed to see the colder and crueler truth hidden beneath that glamorous facade.
Speaking of charity?
In the remote heart of the Southern Federation, he also used the secret channels of the Gem Merchant Guild to spend a fortune to establish the Starfire Monastery.
It also shelters a large number of homeless orphans and abandoned infants.
He gave those children shelter from the wind and rain, food to help them grow, and books to educate them... In a sense, he also changed their fate.
However, Galus never believed that his actions were out of kindness.
Behind this seemingly benevolent gift, a price has already been clearly marked.
All of this has never been a selfless act of giving.
(End of this chapter)
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